Cablegate: Blue Lantern Level 3: Pre-License End-Use Check

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BANGKOK 005445

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/MLS, PM/DTCC -- BLUE LANTERN COORDINATOR
(JSTITZIEL)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC KOMC TH BLUE LANTERN
SUBJECT: BLUE LANTERN LEVEL 3: PRE-LICENSE END-USE CHECK
ON APPLICATION 05-972748

REF: SECSTATE 151155

1. Per reftel request, POL FSN made inquiries into the bona
fides of Kornyuth Limited Partnership and determined the
following information.

Kornyuth is registered with the Thai Ministry of Commerce,
Department of Business Development as:

The Kornyuth Ltd., Partnership Ltd. Capital Registration
200,000 Baht

The registration lists 3 partners in the concern:
Ms. Oranat Bunyachai with shares worth 50,000 Baht
Mr. Suadet Bunyachai with shares worth 100,0000 Baht
Mr. Surasak Bunyachai with shares worth 50,000

Manager of the Company is Ms. Oranat Bunyachai Address: 33
Burapha Road, Pra Kanhon District, Bangkok. The Company has
submitted annual financial reports for the years 1999-2004

2. Pol FSN met with Mr. Prawet, Chief of the Shop Permit
Section of the Thai Ministry of Interior's Department of
Provincial Administration, Bureau of Investigation and Legal
Affairs, Public Service Center. Prawet provided copies of
permits from his Ministry allowing the import/purchase of 20
.38 revolvers and 10 9 mm. pistols to Ms. Oranut Boonyachai
of Kornyuth Ltd. The documents provided by Mr. Prawet concur
with those in reftel. Prawet was unaware of the USML and its
restrictions but, after being briefed on its requirements,
said that, according to Thai law, a non-Thai who lives in
Thailand for more than six months is allowed to buy a gun and
is able to take that gun out of the country via appropriate
customs procedures. However, the foreign buyer has to pass
the same state background check that a Thai national must
pass.

3. Pol FSN made an unannounced visit to Kornyuth and
described it being located in a one room four-story
combination residence office building located on a busy
street in a neighborhood with a number of gunshops. It does
not have CCTV and the glass in front of the shop had no bars.
The shop is inspected by the MOI every four months. The
shop had five different signs displaying different businesses
in front. While there, he met Ms. Oranut Boonyachai, the
manager, and Mr. Winai Muangprasoet, a shop custodian.

4. They presented copies of MOI Permits dated June 5, 2005
to expire on June 4, 2006, allowing the establishment of
Kornyuth and permission to possess and sale firearms. Ms.
Oranut confirmed the accuracy of the Ministry of Commerce
registrations and showed copies of a July 29, 2005 purchase
order No.D047/05 SW prepared by Smith & Wesson's Thai
distributor, the Louis T. Leonowens Co., Ltd. .

5. Ms. Oranut related that she and her family altogether own
7 gun shops, including Kornyuth, and that each shop is
allowed to sell 30 pistols/revolvers, 50 rifles, and various
types of ammunition to total about 50,000 rounds annually.

7. Other questions raised in reftel:

How long has the company been in business and who are its
principles?

Kornyuth Ltd. has been in business since 1975, but Ms.
Oranut's family has been in the gun business for several
years previously. Principles are listed above, all members
of the same family.

Who are its typical customers and where are they located?

Thai citizens -- civilians, police, soldiers, state
officials. Before buying a gun, a customer must obtain a
license to purchase a weapon from the MOI's Gun Registration
Section and pass a background check. Pol FSN saw records
indicating that annual sales by Kornyuth total about 1.3
million Baht.

Does the company have an established, legitimate customer
base to which it plans to sell these firearms.

Any Thai citizen with the appropriate license may purchase
from Somboon.

Does the company keep proper, detailed records?

Yes. All licenses and records of buyers and guns sold are
well documented both at the shop and at MOI. These are kept
in hard copy only (not computerized) and are maintained for
ten years.

Does the company understand the restrictions of the USML
articles?

Ms. Oranat seemed well versed in the restrictions.
BOYCE

© Scoop Media